A man has hit out at a parking company after receiving a £70 fine for overstaying by 24 minutes at retail park while his disabled wife used the bathroom.
Bob Blenkinsop was infuriated by the fine, after his family spent a total of £1,500 on Christmas shopping over the course of the visit on November 24 2021.
They overstayed the three hour free parking by 24 minutes because Mr Blenkinsop's wife, who uses a mobility scooter, had to return to use the toilet.
She relied on her daughter, who is also disabled, to accompany her and load her scooter into the car.
Mr Blenkinsop is challenging the fine, from parking company G24, who operate the Central Six Retail car park on Warwick Road.
He told CoventryLive on behalf of his wife and daughter: "It took 3 hours 20 minutes by the time they got the scooter back in the car and it was a three hour limit, eventually they were ready to go, my wife had to go to the toilet, and had to go back into Boots which took further time.
"The actual fact that they spent over £1,500 between them should negate any time constraints because they are doing retail a lot of good.
"I wrote back and challenged the fine, I got no sympathy whatsoever, no allowance for disability, if you are over the three hours you are going to get fined."
Slamming G24 parking as a "mercenary parking agent", Mr Blenkinsop said they did not seem open to listening to his explanation.
"They sent back a second letter demanding the fine, I am just ignoring it," he said.
"Armed with the fact that they were complete lack of sympathy, I consulted the Coventry Telegraph and remember there was an article around six months ago which stated the retail park had taken over by a private company."
Mr Blenkinsop also traced the owners of the site but has had no luck with getting in contact with someone to hear his explanation.
The fine was offered as a £42 charge if paid within 14 days of issue, which would then rise to £70 if after the deadline.
Mr Blenkinsop has vowed never to return to Central Six: "[G24] are so outrageously greedy that they would fine someone for spending money in their retail park, it is ridiculous.
"I would rather shop somewhere else".
He added: "I understand there could be a problem of people overstaying by the time limit as commuters could be using it free of charge, if anybody is justifiably shopping in their centre, even if they spend a fiver, I would think there should be no time limit."
The Mirror has contacted G24 for a comment on Mr Blenkinsop's case.
